Ambler Primary School and Children's Centre, London
Ambler Primary School and Children's Centre is a primary school for pupils aged 0 to 11 in London. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in May 2017. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in November 2024 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 204th-highest of the 959 schools in London with published results, and 1,534th of 14,452 across England. For 2026 entry it had 1.3 first-choice applications for every place. It was 99% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2017)
- Demand
- Oversubscribed
- Attendance
- Better than England average
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Islington (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Ambler Primary School and Children's Centre in detail
Ambler Primary School and Children's Centre in its own words
In its own words: "At Ambler, our aim is to help all children and adults in the school and children's centre in Achieving More . Our core values are: DETERMINATION , RESILIENCE , EMPATHY , AMBITION , MOTIVATION and SELF-BELIEF."
From the headteacher's welcome: "Ambler Primary School and Children's Centre is a unique, culturally diverse, community school with children from 6 months to 11years of age. It is a place where every decision made puts the needs of the child first and foremost - a school that is aspirational for every learner."
The school runs a breakfast club and after-school care.
Vision and values (school website)Headteacher's welcome (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 93% of Year 6 pupils at Ambler Primary School and Children's Centre reached the expected standard in reading and 87% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 80% and 78% in Islington and 77% and 75% across England.
Results fell from 98% in reading and 88% in maths in 2024.
Getting a place at Ambler Primary School and Children's Centre
For September 2026 entry, 75 families put Ambler Primary School and Children's Centre as their first choice and 292 named it as one of their preferences, for 60 places offered. That is 1.3 first choices for every place. 22 families who put it first were not offered a place there.
Admissions history and your chances at Ambler Primary School and Children's Centre
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Ambler Primary School and Children's Centre are Gillespie Primary School (0.2 miles, Outstanding, 89% reading, 96% maths); Parkwood Primary School (0.2 miles, Good, 82% reading, 73% maths); St John's Highbury Vale CofE Primary School (0.3 miles, Good, 73% reading, 81% maths); and St Joan of Arc RC Primary School (0.5 miles, Good, 81% reading, 83% maths).
Ambler Primary School and Children's Centre's 2025 results were higher than 3 of these 4 schools.
Gillespie Primary SchoolParkwood Primary SchoolSt John's Highbury Vale CofE Primary SchoolSt Joan of Arc RC Primary School
What parents say
174 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Ambler Primary School and Children's Centre (as of September 2025): 98% would recommend the school, 98% say their child is happy there and 90% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (99%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (90%).
Who goes there
39.8% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (26%), Mixed (21%) and Black (18%).
Getting there
The nearest Underground station is Finsbury Park Underground Station, about 340 metres away (roughly a 4-minute walk).
13 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Monsell Road, 150 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Ambler Primary School and Children's Centre issued 14 suspensions, 2.7 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Ambler Primary School and Children's Centre are Highbury Fields School (0.7 miles) and Arts and Media School Islington (0.7 miles).
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; Ofsted Parent View; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Location
Our estimate from how close the nearest similar schools are and how oversubscribed the council's schools are. It is not a published boundary.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from May 2017, 9 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's November 2024 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
This school provides an exceptionally ambitious curriculum where your child will progress really well and develop strong reading and communication skills. The warm, respectful atmosphere means pupils are happy and supported to manage their emotions. Your child will also benefit from an extensive range of enrichment activities - from art gallery visits to author events and after-school clubs - that broaden their knowledge and cultural experiences.
Key Strengths
- Pupils progress exceptionally well through all subjects, with consistently high achievement including for pupils with SEND
- Strong focus on reading and communication skills from early years, with all pupils becoming confident, fluent readers
- Extensive enrichment programme including art gallery visits, author visits, after-school clubs and cultural activities
- Clear behaviour routines and strong relationships established from Nursery onwards, with pupils showing excellent resilience and empathy
- Ambitious, coherent curriculum with regular check-ins to address gaps quickly
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with leaders creating an open and positive culture that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
Author visits, art gallery visits, artist in residence programmes, after-school clubs (sports, street dance), reading competitions, assemblies, school visits
Ambler Primary School and Children's Centre is an outstanding school where pupils are very happy and progress extremely well through an ambitious curriculum. The school has a highly respectful atmosphere and provides extensive enrichment activities that broaden pupils' learning and cultural experiences.
At a Glance
29.3%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
174 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 98% to 93% (2024 to 2025). Maths has remained stable at around 87% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 80% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
27.8
Avg class size
30.0
Infant (KS1)
29.6
KS2
16
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Ambler Primary School and Children's Centre
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Ambler Primary School and Children's Centre.
- Right Way Sports Limited at Ambler Primary SchoolAt the school · Not yet graded
- Fine Scholars380m away · Not yet graded
- Miken Childcare430m away · Not yet graded
- Perform N5490m away · Not yet graded
Term dates
Ambler Primary School and Children's Centre is a community school, so its term dates are set by Islington. Training (INSET) days, when pupils are not in school, vary by school: check the school's own calendar.
2026 to 2027
- Autumn term: Wednesday 2 September to Friday 18 December 2026 (half term Monday 26 October to Friday 30 October 2026)
- Spring term: Monday 4 January to Thursday 25 March 2027 (half term Monday 15 February to Friday 19 February 2027)
- Summer term: Monday 12 April to Thursday 22 July 2027 (half term Monday 31 May to Friday 4 June 2027)
2027 to 2028
- Autumn term: Wednesday 1 September to Friday 17 December 2027 (half term Monday 25 October to Friday 29 October 2027)
- Spring term: Tuesday 4 January to Friday 31 March 2028 (half term Monday 14 February to Friday 18 February 2028)
- Summer term: Tuesday 18 April to Friday 21 July 2028 (half term Monday 29 May to Friday 2 June 2028)
Getting There
Train Stations
Tube / Metro / Tram
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Ambler Primary School and Children's Centre from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Ambler Primary School and Children's Centre is in Islington; for families living there:
Apply to Islington for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 232
- Fatal
- 1
- Serious
- 38
- Children hurt
- 7
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 232 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 38 serious and 193 slight.
7 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 5 on foot and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise.
37 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Islington is 143 (the median across 70 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at Ambler Primary School and Children's Centre
Will you get a place at Ambler Primary School and Children's Centre? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Ambler Primary School and Children's Centre's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Ambler Primary School and Children's Centre:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Ambler Primary School and Children's Centre.
- Islington publishes last distance offered figures, but none for Ambler Primary School and Children's Centre that we hold, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Ambler Primary School and Children's Centre for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Islington got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
£9.99 once
One school, inc. VAT. Or £19.99 for up to three schools.
Pro £9 a month, every report included, cancel any time
A report for any school, plus everything else in Pro.
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
99%
Near capacity
419 pupils
420 places
1 spare place in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - London
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for London
Across Islington council
Places available
1,760
Applications
1,683
Got 1st preference
79.4%
Got preferred school
95.8%
All primary applications across Islington council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Oversubscribed
Inspection History(8)
Ungraded inspection: The school remains Outstanding, but Ofsted raised concerns; its next inspection will be a full graded one.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
73
SEN Support
30
EHC Plans
20.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
515
Total Pupils
274
Boys
241
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
26
Teachers
19.8:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£57,656
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£6,891
Per pupil
£3209k
Total funding
£209k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.0%
Overall absence
10.1%
Persistent absence
367
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Ambler Primary School and Children's Centre
Questions parents ask about Ambler Primary School and Children's Centre
What are SATs results like at Ambler Primary School and Children's Centre?
Of the pupils at Ambler Primary School and Children's Centre who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 93% reached the expected standard in reading and 87% did so in maths.
What is Ambler Primary School and Children's Centre's Ofsted rating?
Ambler Primary School and Children's Centre's most recent Ofsted inspection, in November 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in May 2017, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Ambler Primary School and Children's Centre?
No fixed boundary. When Ambler Primary School and Children's Centre is oversubscribed, Islington allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Ambler Primary School and Children's Centre?
Ambler Primary School and Children's Centre was full in 2025, at 100% of its capacity, so places are allocated on the oversubscription criteria.
How big are the classes at Ambler Primary School and Children's Centre?
Classes at Ambler Primary School and Children's Centre average 27.8 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Ambler Primary School and Children's Centre?
Ambler Primary School and Children's Centre has around 515 pupils on roll. 29% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Ambler Primary School and Children's Centre?
4% of sessions were missed at Ambler Primary School and Children's Centre in 2024/25. 10.1% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Ambler Primary School and Children's Centre?
Apply through Islington's coordinated admissions process, naming Ambler Primary School and Children's Centre on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
Does Ambler Primary School and Children's Centre have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club at the school: Right Way Sports Limited at Ambler Primary School (registered, not yet graded). There are 3 more within a kilometre. The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
What are Ambler Primary School and Children's Centre's term dates?
Ambler Primary School and Children's Centre is a community school, so its term dates are set by Islington. In 2026 to 2027: Autumn term: Wednesday 2 September to Friday 18 December 2026 (half term Monday 26 October to Friday 30 October 2026); Spring term: Monday 4 January to Thursday 25 March 2027 (half term Monday 15 February to Friday 19 February 2027); Summer term: Monday 12 April to Thursday 22 July 2027 (half term Monday 31 May to Friday 4 June 2027). In 2027 to 2028: Autumn term: Wednesday 1 September to Friday 17 December 2027 (half term Monday 25 October to Friday 29 October 2027); Spring term: Tuesday 4 January to Friday 31 March 2028 (half term Monday 14 February to Friday 18 February 2028); Summer term: Tuesday 18 April to Friday 21 July 2028 (half term Monday 29 May to Friday 2 June 2028).
How many road collisions happen near Ambler Primary School and Children's Centre?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 232 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 38 serious and 193 slight. 7 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 5 on foot and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise. 37 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Islington is 143 (the median across 70 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Ambler Primary School and Children's Centre?
Ambler Primary School and Children's Centre is at Blackstock Road, Finsbury Park, London, N4 2DR.
Sources: Islington term dates; Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)